Trickery

There have been some very local earthquakes (USGS). Raleigh’s and Café Intermezzo on Telegraph have been condemned and will probably have to be demolished after a big fire last Friday. And again I’m surprised how cold it can get in California during the rain season. It’s unreal.

Here’s a nice deal from a home knock-out series. Sitting South Geoff and I had a fast auction to the NT game.

North

K84

AK5

98764

98

South

AQ72

QT7

QJ

KQ74

West leads the 2 (4th best).

So looks like the suit to tackle. I win the in dummy and play a to my Jack, West winning the Ace. Another and I find myself in a bind. If I win in hand to play the Queen I’m basically depending on the Ten dropping or East having the Ten and the Ace (so that West never gets to collect the 13th ). Prospects are bleak at best.

I decide to go for a little swindle. See if my RHO is awake.

I win the in dummy and smoothly request another from dummy, playing towards my stiff Queen. East doesn’t look too concerned and my Queen wins the trick. When the break evenly I’m home.

South Dealer

NS Vul

North

K84

AK5

98764

98

West

J93

8632

AT5

AJ3

East

T65

J94

K32

J652

South

AQ72

QT7

QJ

KQ74

As it turns out there’s no legal way to 9 tricks. Sometimes I really feel like the Hideous Hog, taking the tricks I’m entitled to and a few that belong to the opponents, too.

When you play J and West wins A East has found Q and should know better than to duck the second round. If you had played Q it might be from QT5 and East can’t afford to fly K on the second round.

I can’t construct a layout (with five diamonds in dummy) where anyone would ever duck J. Even 98764, KT52, QJ, A3 might, maybe, signalling aside, make West think the layout is 98764, Q52, KJT, A3 but I don’t see how the duck will help.